Not sure if you have ever stepped foot on a Naval vessel in port. Quarterdeck watches in port are usually 3 people.
The quarterdeck OOD, the petty officer of the watch and the messenger of the watch. None of these people receive extensive or intensive training in security procedures or weapons usage. The inport OOD can be just about any junior officer or chief such as an ENS. supply officer, JG CIC officer, chief radiomen, chief Ships Serviceman (skivvy scrubber). The petty officer of the watch is rated, can fog a mirror, and is taught enough about fire arms to know which end you are suppose to point at the target. They are not security specialists and do they receive extensive training in weapons handling, or hand to hand combat. They are assigned the duty from any of the 20 or 30 sailors in that particular duty section. Over the years I have seen many men assigned to that watch that could have had their weapon taken away from under similar circumstances. To claim that this incident was the solely result of the watch being a women shows a considerable lack of understanding of how the system functions. JMO.
Thanks for your thoughtful response. I am going to first say that I have served onboard the Ajax, Hector and Haynesworth both tied to the dock and underway. In addition, being in control of mail destined to/from West PAC ships for two years, I’ve boarded MANY, MANY west PAC ships delivering regular mail. So, that answers your question about my service and crossing quarter decks in port.
Next, I will agree with you that “sometimes” the 1,2 or 3 guys that are on duty at the boarding deck area are horsing around.
And, I will agree with you that the Navy even in my time would give a 45 to anybody. I had one a lot because of delivering registered mail. In my case though, growing up in the country, I could sure use it.
Now though, you and I are going to differ that your “average” man and your “average” woman are the same in terms of upper body strength. My daughter is 28. I am 66 in two more days. And she is in “above average” shape for a woman due to serious, disciplined workouts. And, professionally, she is a CPA. So, she’s nobodies fool. Conversely, I am in average shape for a 66 year old. But, she knows that in a fracas I could take her down easily in 2 seconds!
So, yours and my argument seems to be several. That the Navy was at fault to some degree for lack of training. I agree and admitted as much in my original post. But, on your counter argument that ipso facto this young girls lack of strength is not a factor when we know the gun was taken away from her and used to kill, that is KILL, one of her fellow sailors.............seems on it’s face to be one of the purest illustrations of denial I have seen in a long time.
Lets REMEMBER .......it cannot be denied by anyone that ONE, the gun was taken away from HER (a female) and TWO was THEN used to KILL Seaman Mayo.
Mayo is now prematurely DEAD by fifty years and has loving family left behind. From the facts currently at hand, I think the girls natural lack of upper body strength to fight off her attacker was the primary cause of Seaman Mayos death. You don’t. So, we will have to agree to disagree.
Now, this doesn’t make Mayos death HER fault! She just should not have been put in that position by our beloved, but PC, Navy. The damn PC Navy is in denial that a woman, in a physical fight, should be put in the position of defending a billion dollar warship. Instead, that job should go, common sense tells us, to the meanest, biggest , toughest sob you have on board, and I’ve never served on a ship that didn’ t have plenty of them. 45 years ago, I fit that category pretty good. If some goon came charging up my boarding ramp it is HIGHLY unlikely he would have made it past me and quite possibly would have been dead and a Mayo alive!
Finally, Our PC Navy will cover it all up or normally u and I could rely on a competent, unbiased investigation to settle the argument.
Like everything else in our world today, there will be no accountability and poor Seaman Mayo will just be dead and the world continues turning.
I appreciate your thoughtful and sincere response to my post.
Totally agree with your assessment. My daughter was TAD to security on the Lincoln for 18 months. She is qual’d in 9 mm and M16/14. She says this young female sailor’s trainers failed her. They are not taught to expect this sort of thing. They are not taught to not let potential threats get close to them. They are warned and trained to deal with drunk or unruly sailors with nightsticks, not possible terrorists or attacks. Female and male sailors get the same training. Sailors, even those permanently assigned to Security, are not trained in how to prevent being disarmed or in using deadly force. In addition, sailors who are TAD to security are not in the correct frame of mind, imo, and are not TRAINED to be in the correct frame of mind all security personnel should be in. TAD to security is a dangerous way to maintain a protection force, in my opinion.